
S08 E04 Nadia Cassim
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Nadia Cassim is a novelist and short story writer whose most recent book NOT ANOTHER SAMOOSA RUN is currently longlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Prize.
A brave and ground-breaking novel, her book has been described as 'funny, thought-provoking, and empowering'.
Nadia joins Fiona and Gail to talk about how she trusts her writing process and knows that her next great idea is just around the corner.
For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up here for our weekly newsletter:
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A brave and ground-breaking novel, her book has been described as 'funny, thought-provoking, and empowering'.
Nadia joins Fiona and Gail to talk about how she trusts her writing process and knows that her next great idea is just around the corner.
For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up here for our weekly newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/icon/the-hidden-lives-of-writers-newsletter-signup
Ask your writing-related questions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8i1_vFmUwsd7E_nvPgQOtqEscvZIircT0imdHm_qYJK5eXA/viewform
Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation here:
Email: hiddenlivesofwriters@gmail.com
Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod
Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod
YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers
Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters
Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction and Writing Week Check-In
- 03:32 What We've Been Reading: Villa Coco and All Them Dogs
- 09:55 Introducing Nadia Cassim
- 11:02 Nadia's Writing Routine and Weekly Word Count
- 12:34 Short Stories vs Novels: Space, Editing, and Freedom
- 16:48 Openness to Criticism and the Value of Strict Editing
- 19:10 How Nadia Knows if an Idea Has Legs
- 22:08 Origin Story: Teacher, Town Planning, and a Gap Year
- 26:03 First Submissions, Rejection, and Writing Through Divorce
- 29:31 Pan Macmillan, COVID, and the Road to Quaelle Books
- 30:57 What Is a Samosa Run - and How the Title Was Born
- 33:38 Tropes, Fake Relationships, and Writing Without a Rulebook
- 35:30 Writing as a South African Muslim Woman
- 36:01 Ithaca Magazine and Challenging Community Narratives
- 39:15 Community Response to 'Not Another Samosa Run'
- 41:07 A Movement in South African Muslim Women's Writing
- 43:22 The Mother-Daughter Relationship at the Heart of the Book
- 45:18 Writing Other Cultures - and Being Written About
- 47:01 Formal Training vs Natural Voice: The Course Question
- 50:25 Financial Advising, Reiki, and the Link to Creativity
- 54:24 Creativity, Chakras, and Setting Intentions
- 55:39 Character Creation: Planned or Found on the Page
- 56:36 Plotter or Pantser - and Trusting Intuition
- 57:20 Teasing 'Perfect Lies' - Coming 2027
- 57:58 What Nadia Has Been Reading and Watching
- 01:00:38 Hosts Reflect: Energy, Chakras, and Discernment in Feedback

